6-keto-delta-10-methyldecalone-1



Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED ST OF F ICE 6-KETO-A -IO-ME'IHYLDECALONE1 Norman L. Wendler, LindemandEHarry L. Slates, Granford, N.. J .assignors to: Merckaidi Inez, Rahway, N .,J-., acorpnration of New Jersey No-Drawinga Application ;March 1,1951%. Serial N 0. 147158 (Cl. EMF-586) In carrying out the foregoing reactions; the 2 methyldihydroresorcinol is ordinarily dissolved in an aliphatic alcohol, preferably a lower aliphatic alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, propamethyldecalone-l, and with the process. of pre- 5 1101, and the'like. A mixture of thissolution and aring this compound by condensing Z-methylan aqueoussolutionof methyl vinyl ketone is redihydroresorcinol with methyl vinyl ketone, folacted,,at'rocm temperature, in the presenceof a lowed by cyclization of the condensation product catalytic amount of a tertiary amine. Suitable thus obtained. 6-keto-A -IO-methyldecalone-l tertiary aminesare trialkylamines, such as tripossesses the AB ring system characteristic of 10 ethyl a'mi'ne, dialkyl'aryl'amines, such as dimethyl certain members of the steroid group of comanilineand tertiary heterocyclic amines, such as pounds (such as testosterone, progesterone, and pyridine, and thelike: The reaction mixture is adrenal hormones such as cortisone) and also shaken periodically and allowed to stand for a possesses the proper functional substitutionv in period of 16 20 hours after which time it is filring A together with. angular methylationat po- 15 tered and evaporated in vacuo. The residual sition 10. 6l :eto-A -lO-methyldecalone-lis calight-colored oil is dissolved in a water-immiscipable of further elaboration to a steroid member ble organic solvent. such as ether and the soluand is of value as a starting material for the total tion. is extracted with an aqueous sodium bicarsynthesis of steroid hormones. bonate solution to remove acidic products. The The 6-keto-A? -lo-methyldecalone-l,. subject 29 organic solvent layer is dried and, upon evaporaof the present invention, can be preparedlby retion of the ether, yields the. desiredZ-methyl-Z- actions which may be chemically represented as (butanone-3 y1)'-1,3 diketc cyclohexane (comfollows: pound 3), which is obtained as an oil.

0 i CH3 Tertiary CH3: CH COCH=CH +11 c \CHZ amine ongoocnzcn o=o H2 AlE-atic alcohol 0 Aluminum alkoxide, l inert organic solvent The reactions, indicated above, are conducted as follows: Methyl vinyl ketone (compound 1) is condensed. with 2 methyldihydrorescrcinol (compound 2), in solution in an aliphatic alcohol and in the presence of a catalytic amount of a tertiary amine, to produce 2-methyl-2-(butanone-3-yl)-1,3-diketo-cyclohexane (compound 3); this compound is then heated in solution in an inert organic solvent in the presence of an aluminum alkoxide to produce fi-keto A -l0- methyldecalone-l (compound 4).

Example 1 A solution of 10 g. of 2-methyldihydroresorcinol in 155 cc. of methanol was treated with 13.8 cc. of an 85% aqueous solution of methyl-vinyl ketone (stabilized with hydroquinone) and 1.5 cc. of triethylamine. The reaction mixture was shaken periodically and allowed to stand at room temperature for 16-20 hours. The solution was filtered from traces of polymeric materials and the clear. filtrate was vacuum evaporated to a light colored oil. The latter was dissolved in ether and thoroughly extracted with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The ether solution was subsequently dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, the solvent evaporated and the residue distilled in vacuo to produce 6 g. of 2-methyl-2- (butanone-S-yl)-'l,3-diketocyclohexane; B. P. 95-100/0.01 mm,

iMflgcznsoa 2820 E1152, ;.3' (carbonyl absorption) Example 2 A solution of 6.3 g. or Z-methyldihydrpresorcinol in approximately 100 cc. of methanol was treated with 10 cc. of an 85% aqueous solution of methyl-vinyl ketone (stabilized with hydroquinone) and 10 drops of triethylamine. The reaction mixture was shaken periodically and allowed to stand at room temperature for 16-20 g The solution was filtered from traces of hours. polymeric materials and the clear filtrate was vacuum evaporated to a light colored oil. This product was distilled in vacuo to produce 6.3 g. of 2-methyl-2-(butanone-S-yl) -1,3 diketocyclohexane.

Example 3 Mm; 02 35011; 2450 A. c a m Yield, 40

40% (Elfi 673 for pure material). This product'was chromatographed on 200 g. of acid washed alumina, elution being effected with mixtures of benzene and ether. From the chromatographic purification there were obtained crystalline fractions from eluates corresponding to 5% ether-benzene to 20% ether-benzene. These crystalline fractions were recrystallized from ether-petroleum ether to afford 6 kcto A l0 methyldecalone l as small, colorless prisms, M. P. 49-50",

Analysis.Calcd for C11H14022 C, 74.16; H, 7.86; C-methyl, 1.00. Found: C, 74.35; H, 7.73; C-methyl, 0.97.

Various changes and. modifications may be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of the annexed claims, they are to be considered as a part of our invention.

We claim:

1. 6ket0-A -10 rnethyldecalone-1 having the structural formula:

2. The process of preparing 6-keto-A -10- methyldecalone-l which comprises reacting methyl-vinyl ke'tone with 2-methyldihydroresorcinol in the presence of .a tertiary amine to form 2- methyl 2 (butanone 3 yl) -1,3-diketo-cyclohexane, and heating this compound in solution in an organic solvent in the presence of an aluminum alkoxide to produce 6-l:eto-A -l0-methyldecalone-l.

3. The process which comprises reacting methyl-vinyl ketone with 2-methyldihydroresorcinol in the presence of a tertiary amine, followed by cyclization of the compound thus produced by heating said compound in an organic solvent in the presence of an aluminum alkoxide.

4. The process of preparing 6-keto-A -10- methyldecalone-l which comprises reacting methyl-vinyl ketone with 2-methyldihydroresorcinol in the presence of triethylamine to form 2-methyl- 2-(butanone-3-yl) 1,3 diketo-cyclohexane, and heating this compound in solution in benzene in the presence of aluminum t-butylate to produce 6-keto-A -10-methyldecalone-l.

NORMAN L. WENDLER. HARRY L. SLATES.

No references cited. 

1. 6-KETO-$5,9-10-METHYLDECALONE-1 HAVING THE STRUCTURE FORMULA: 